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Nutrient Pollution Control Planning for Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake

The Case for Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). Nutrient Pollution Control Planning for Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake. Hope Smythe Chief, Inland Waters Planning Section Santa Ana Regional Water Board April 23, 2013. Presentation Outline. Who is the Regional Water Board?

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Nutrient Pollution Control Planning for Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake

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  1. The Case for Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Nutrient Pollution Control Planning for Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake Hope Smythe Chief, Inland Waters Planning Section Santa Ana Regional Water Board April 23, 2013

  2. Presentation Outline • Who is the Regional Water Board? • What is a “TMDL”; Why and How Does it Affect Me? • Overview of the Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake Nutrient TMDL • Requirements • Named parties • What’s been done and is it working? • TMDL Task Force • Questions and Answers

  3. Who is the Regional Water Board? • Regional Water Quality Boards were established by the Porter Cologne Act in 1969 • Comprised of up to 7 appointees and staff • Santa Ana Regional Board jurisdiction: • Northern Riverside County • Southwestern San Bernardino County • Northern Orange County

  4. Water Boards are leaders in the Protection of Water Quality • Regulatory Authority • Federal Clean Water Act • CA Water Code • Activities: • Water Quality Control Planning • Identify uses of waters • Establish WQ Objectives to protect uses • Establish TMDLs = pollution control plans • Regulatory Programs • Permitting (e.g. stormwater discharges) • Environmental Monitoring • Enforcement

  5. Lake Elsinore WQ Problems • Severe algal blooms • Sometimes massive fish kills Cause of WQ Problems • Excessive phosphorus and nitrogen = nutrients • Depletion of Oxygen Sources of Nutrients • Urban, agriculture, septic systems • Nutrients likely to come in large storm events when Canyon Lake overflows

  6. Canyon Lake WQ Problems • Occasional algal blooms • Periodic fish kills Cause of WQ Problems • Excessive phosphorus and nitrogen = nutrients • Depletion of Oxygen Sources of Nutrients • Urban, agriculture, septic systems • Nutrients likely to come in large storm events

  7. External Sources:

  8. Internal Sources:

  9. What did the Water Board do about water quality problems? • Listed Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake on Clean Water Act, 303(d) list of Impaired Waters in 1994, 1998 and 2002 • In 2004, adopted nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) pollution control plans or TMDLs for both Lakes • Water Board staff having been working with Stakeholders on the implementation of the TMDLs

  10. Discharger Responsibilities By 2020 reduce - Nitrogen and Phosphorus Who has to reduce nutrients? - Urban - Septic Systems - Agriculture - Recycled Water - CAFO - Internal Sediment - Open Space Lands Nutrient reductions Lake Elsinore/Canyon Lake TMDL Targets ParameterCompliance Date Total Phosphorus 2020 Total Nitrogen 2020 Ammonia Nitrogen 2020 Chlorophyll a 2015, 2020 Dissolved Oxygen 2015, 2020

  11. Responsible Stakeholders • US Forest Service: • San Bernardino and Cleveland National Forest Management Zones • March Air Reserve Base and March JPA • State of California • Department of Fish and Game • Department of Transportation • County of Riverside • Flood Control and Water Conservation District • Co-permittees including: City of Beaumont City of Lake Elsinore City of Perris City of Canyon Lake City of Moreno Valley City of Riverside City of Hemet City of Murrieta City of San Jacinto City of Menifee City of Wildomar • Water Agencies: • Eastern Municipal Water District • Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District • Agriculture: • Concentrated Animal Feeding Operators • Agricultural Operators

  12. Lake Elsinore Phosphorus Reductions

  13. How close is Lake Elsinoreto meeting TMDL Targets?

  14. How close is Lake Elsinoreto meeting TMDL Targets (cont.)?

  15. Canyon Lake Phosphorus Reductions

  16. How close is Canyon Lake (Main Basin)to meeting TMDL Targets?

  17. How close is Canyon Lake (Main Basin)to meeting TMDL Targets? (cont.)

  18. Challenges: Compliance Issues Regional Board supportive of • Directly addressing lakes’ water quality with in-lake projects • Trading of pollution credits • Revising TMDL if appropriate • Coordinated actions to meet TMDL Targets, e.g., LESJWA actions, CNRP, AgNMP • TMDL Task Force efforts • Opportunity for all stakeholders to coordinate efforts • Allows RB to deal with stakeholders as a whole instead of each individually (resource efficient)

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